Spring Students Prepare for the 68th Annual Spring Livestock Show and Fair March 28-30

March 1, 2019 – More than 115 Spring ISD students will be showing their projects at the 68th Annual Spring Livestock Show and Fair March 28-30 at Nagy Pavilion, 24037 Hardy Rd. Livestock shows will be scheduled throughout the three days, with special events featured on Friday and a live auction on Saturday.

Coordinated by Spring Tri-Club, the annual event will showcase hundreds of entries – including livestock, arts and crafts, welding and woodworking products, as well as food, horticulture and photography – by students involved in FFA, Family Career and Community Leaders of America and Spring 4-H.

“After almost 70 years, the Spring Livestock Show and Fair is still providing students with the opportunity to learn a variety of skills, develop leadership capabilities, and experience first-hand the responsibility and commitment needed while raising animals and completing creative projects,” said Marsha Cook, Tri-Club president. “Our students work very hard for many months preparing for this event and nothing affirms their success like the support of community members who attend the show and purchase their projects.”

Fair Queen Kierstin Taylor, senior and FFA president at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, will be showing a goat and a pig in the livestock competition, and entering projects in the arts and crafts and food competitions. This is Taylor’s fourth year of participating in the event. After winning showmanship with her lamb and grand champion with her pig last year, she is hoping for some big wins this year as well.

Raising a show animal is no small task. Taylor said she began last fall going to the ag barn where the school’s animals are housed to feed her animals twice a day and work with them of an evening to make sure they are well-exercised, and looking their best for the big show.

Taylor, who is planning to become an ag teacher herself, gave a shout out to her teacher, Jessica Graham, and her principal, Andria Schur, for the support they give the students. She also expressed how grateful she and the other student participants are to the community for coming out each year and supporting their efforts at the auctions on Saturday.

“We are so grateful for the community because without them we wouldn’t be able to let this show go on,” Taylor said. “They give back so much and without them we wouldn’t be as successful as we are.”

Funds raised at the sale will be used for student scholarships and to finance future projects that many students would not be able to fund themselves. The public will have several opportunities Saturday, March 30 to show their support for the students involved in the program, including a silent auction at 9 a.m. and a live auction featuring renowned auctioneer Randolph Holford at 12:30 p.m.

“Proceeds from the purchase of Scholarship Cakes, the special events and in-kind donations go toward funding scholarships for graduating seniors. In the past seven years, scholarships worth over $53,000 have been awarded to deserving seniors,” Cook said. “In addition, this year a 2019 Commemorative Buckle will be sold at auction to benefit student scholarships.”

Recognizing the importance of community support, each year an honoree is chosen for making a lasting impact on Spring Tri-Club. This year Jim and Torri Morell – founding members of one of the show’s top buyers group – will share that honor. Both are graduates of Spring High School, and Torri Morrell is also a Tri-Club alumna. Their two daughters showed livestock at the fair for many years and are also graduates of Spring High School.

“Jim and Torri continue to come back every year and support exhibitors where needed,” Cook said. “We are so grateful for the support of volunteers like the Morells.”

There are several ways to support the Spring Livestock Show and Fair, including sponsorships of animal projects, tents, scholarships, and buckle and banner awards; live auction; silent auction; private sale; and add-ons. To be a sponsor, contact springtriclub@yahoo.com or call Marsha Cook at 281-384-3122. In addition, donations can be made to the Spring ISD Stampede Buyers Group by contacting Spring ISD Executive Director of Strategic Planning Miguel Perez at 281-891-6111 or mperez5@springisd.org to donate.

“No matter how hard the students, advisors and Tri-Club members work, the show can only be a true success with community support from buyers,” Cook said. “If you like supporting kids, come out to our livestock show and see the efforts of these amazing Spring ISD students.”

Spring Tri-Club, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Forms and detailed information are located online at www.SpringTri-Club.org.